You don’t get drunk on red wine, and fight no more, ‘Cause I don’t see you anymore, Since the hospital, But the plans I make still have you in them, Then you come swimming into view, And I’m hanging on your words like I always used to do, The words they use so lightly, I only feel for you, I only know this because I carry you around, In the background. –Third Eye Blind Sometimes, when I look at old… Read more

Photo of the Day | Malibu Francie I’ve carted around this Malibu Francie since Christmas 1973. And, if you must know, I thought she was a Malibu Barbie until tonight. For 44 years I’ve referred to this survivor by the wrong name. It’s a cruel world for dolls, y’all. In 1974, Francie moved with me from Hacienda Heights, California to Colorado Springs. She was with me during some pretty bad latchkey days. But, they ended — as all bad days do… Read more

…Help me believe in what I could be And all that I am. Show me the stairway, I have to climb. Lord for my sake, teach me to take One day at a time. — Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson, 1974 My 10-year-old son puts on a pair orange mirrored sunglasses and says, “Hey, Mom, look! I’m a rowdy teenager! I think I look cool in these glasses.” We make our way through the sporting goods store as I pick up a… Read more

Photo of the Day | Prisoner In A Castle You are a daughter of Heaven, a chosen one. You are a daughter of Heaven, through God’s own Son. You are a daughter of Heaven, so please don’t hide The beauty of Heaven inside. –Jamie Owens-Collins, Daughter of Heaven “Daddy won’t let me get my ears pierced,” she cried. “He makes me feel like a prisoner in a castle!” Some days later, she asked if she could bleach the ends of her hair and… Read more

PHOTO of the DAY: Coke Chicken I put the crock pot of Coke chicken on the table and spoon out a helping for my son. He looks down at it, squints his eyes, pinches up his nose and says, “Mom, this dinner smells like vomit.” I take a whiff and admit, “Yes, it does.” He points to the blobs of ketchup with a fork tine: “It has this red stuff on it. And, this thing.” He lifts a translucent onion with his fork:… Read more

Photo of the Day: Purple Mascara It’s Prince Day. So, purple mascara. Truth is, she asked to play dress-up a week or so ago. She found an old makeup kit in a cabinet in the upstairs bathroom. It was a gift we gave her older sister a few Christmases ago. The little creamy circles of brightly-colored eye shadows were like holiday lights in June. Dazzling to a little girl. Digging around in an old makeup bag, I found a tube… Read more

Photo of the Day: Arrows In A Warrior’s Hands He comes home from a day at the pool with sun-washed cheeks, bloodshot eyes and tan skin. He’s 10 and I celebrate his fleeting boyhood, a rare treasure indeed. After a late dinner, I tuck him in bed and he begins to talk. “There’s something worse than death, Mom,” he says as he pulls his quilt over his shoulders. “What’s that?” I ask. “Eternal pain,” he sighs. “Eternal pain. Torture that goes on forever.” He’s… Read more

Photo of the Day: The Graduate, Class of 2016 Does the road wind up-hill all the way? Yes, to the very end. Will the day’s journey take the whole long day? From morn to night, my friend. Continue reading Christina Rossetti’s Up-Hill Here’s an excerpt from another favorite, a funny poem from Miller Williams. you never should dally with any young man who does any one of the following things: …wants you to change how you do your hair; spits in… Read more

Photo of the Day: The Guinea Pig Welcome to the first Photo of the Day post on The Chronicles of Jennifer — a factual, written report of (mostly) important or (possibly) historic events in my life as they occur. Today’s picture qualifies as possibly historic. Floppy, The Great Guinea Pig, took on a variety of zoo and farm animals this morning. Also, some extinct dinosaurs. Also, he may or may not have mistaken a giraffe foot for a carrot. Have a wonderful Saturday, everybody! Read more

Most of my boys are with me, some are still out seeking glory And some I had to leave behind, my brother I’m still sorry… –Lukas Graham, 7 Years If you want to live a life without regret, never reflect on the past and never, ever should on yourself. I should have done this or I should have done that. There were a million things I wanted to do. After I graduated college, I wanted to backpack across Europe. Instead,… Read more